Way to Go: Tyler Fazzari, Port Washington

Third-grader Tyler Fazzari, who attends John Philip Sousa Elementary School, asked friends and family this spring to donate in a fundraising effort to buy a new SMART Board for East Elementary School in Long Beach. Photo Credit: Handout

A Port Washington third-grader used his birthday as an opportunity to give a special gift to a Long Beach school hard hit by superstorm Sandy.

Tyler Fazzari, who attends John Philip Sousa Elementary School, asked friends and family this spring to donate in a fundraising effort to buy a new SMART Board for East Elementary School in Long Beach.

When representatives at Teq in Huntington Station learned of the boy’s efforts, they donated the item, along with a SMART document camera and slate.

“The school got flooded, and they needed to rebuild,” said Tyler, now 9. “I feel good that they got everything back.”

In addition, Tyler donated the $1,500 he raised — along with another $250 in gift cards to The Home Depot and Lowe’s — to the Long Beach School District. He visited East Elementary School last month to see the equipment and meet the kids benefiting from the donations.

During the visit, East Elementary principal Sean Murray gave Tyler a giant thank-you card signed by every student in the school.

“We’re extremely grateful to Tyler for his effort to aid in our recovery,” Murray said. “We’re hoping someday our students will be able to pay it forward.”